Solo & Ensemble Festival is a very important part of the bands curriculum at Pinckney. Hosted by Hartland High School, the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District IV event allows participants to perform before an adjudicator either as part of an ensemble or as a soloist. Events receive ratings from I - V, with I being the best. Each event receives written comments from the adjudicator, and often receives a mini-clinic. Medals are awarded to events which receive I or II ratings.The Pinckney Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band students are highly encouraged to participate in District Solo & Ensemble Festival. Currently, a majority of Wind Ensemble members participate in this fantastic educational opportunity. Please see the Director for assistance in finding music, also, solo pieces can be chosen with the help of your private teacher. Students are placed in chamber ensembles such as duets, trios, quartets, and quintets as a part of their band experience. Each class chamber ensemble must perform once a year and solo and ensemble is one of those opportunities. Soloists and Ensembles should be aware that their music must be prepared and practiced outside of the regular classroom in addition to their in class practice sessions.Students receiving a I Rating at the District IV Solo & Ensemble Festival may register for State Solo & Ensemble Festival, held each March at seven different sites across the state of Michigan. Each year’s State Festival date is in March. At State Festival, 10th through 12th grade soloists are required to take a Proficiency Examination, with scales and sight reading. State Festival Registration materials are available to those who qualify after District S&E Festival from your Director.Soloists and members of Traditional Ensembles (e.g., woodwind and brass quintet) who excel at the State Festival level are often invited to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) held each May at Western Michigan University. Only 250 out of the more than 80,000 instrumental music students who participate at the district level across the state will be part of the MYAF Honors Band or Orchestra, and Pinckney High School has had a tradition of having MYAF members each year. The very highest level soloists are recommended by their State Festival adjudicators to audition to be one of five soloists to play with orchestral accompaniment at the MYAF. These soloists are required to play a concerto at State Festival, as orchestral accompaniment is required.